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Ce 319.113 
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FOR USE ONLY IN 
THE NORTH CAROLINA COLLECTION 


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REPORT | 


AG IN i 


PROF. CHAS. H. MOORE 


STATE INSPECTOR OF 
NEGRO SCHOOLS 





Made Before the North Carolina 
State Teachers’ Association, Assembled 


at Greensboro, June 23, 1916. | 


(SERGE meee cee mae 


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in 2021 with funding from 
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill 


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President and Members of the N. C. State 
Teachers’ Association: 


As State Inspector of Colored Schools, it is with pleas- 
ure that I have the honor and privilege of submitting a report 
of the work of the Rural School Extension Department of the 
N. C. Teachers’ Association from September Ist, 1915, to 
Pune 20th, 1916. 


It is unnecessary for me to take up your time to give an 
account of how this new educational movement was first start- 
ed, and why; because its inception is of so recent a date, the 
history of its origin is, doubtless, well known to all of you. 

While engaged last summer in the work of the National 
Negro Business League, | was informed by the Secretary of 
the Rural School Ex. Dept., Dr. A.M. Moore, sometime in 
July that I had been chosen by your Executive Board as State 
Inspector of Colored Schools. 


After a little correspondence between the president (Prof. 
J. B. Dudley), and the Secretary (Dr. Moore), of the Board 
and myself, to learn definitely what would be expected of one 
holding this new and responsible office, I decided to accept 
the position and try to do the best to give satisfaction to those 
who deemed me worthy and competent to make the experi- 
ment in an untried field of educational endeavor. 


After the adjournment of the 16th annual session of the 
National Negro Business League in Boston, I returned to 
North Carolina, and on September Ist, in company with the 
Secretary, Dr. A. M. Moore and Mr. Berry O'Kelly, a member 
of the Executive Board, I went to Raleigh to have a conference 
with the State Superintendent, Hon. J. Y. Joyner, and Pro- 
fessors N. C. Newbold and E. E. Sams, of the Department 
Rural Elementary and Colored Normal Schools respectively. 

After Dr. Moore and Mr. O’Kelly had satisfactorily ex- 
plained what the projectors, viz.: N. C. Teachers’ Associa- 
tion, of this new movement intended to accomplish, Dr. Joyner 
then expressed his approval and, furthermore, his willingness 
not only to co-operate with us, but also to give the State Board’s 
endorsement of this movement by requesting Prof. Newbold 


2 


to outline and plan the work to be tentatively done in the dif- 
ferent counties, to which I would be sent. 


Therefore, as a result of this conference and understand- 
ing on the part of both parties to the agreement in the prem- 
ises, I received my first itinerary outlined, and started out Sep- 
tember 3rd, 1915, in prosecution of the work, as laid out for 
me from time to time by the State Department of Education, 
through its representative, Prof. Newbold. | 

While I have not by any means covered the entire State of 
one hundred counties in my work, nevertheless from the Pied- 
mont region to the Tidewater section I have endeavored to 
sound the tocsin for better schools, better health, and a_ better 
community life. | 


In my travels I have visited thirty-five (35) counties, viz. : 
Alamance, Anson, Beaufort, Bertie, Chowan, Columbus, Dup- 
lin, Durham, Edgecombe, Forsyth, Gaston, -Gates, Greene, 
‘Guilford, Halifax, Hertford, Iredell, Johnson, Martin, Meck- 
lenburg, New Hanover, Orange, Pamlico, Pitt, Randolph, Rob- 
eson, Rockingham, Sampson, Vance, Wake, Warren, Wayne, 
Wilkes, Wilson and Yadkin. 

During this time I have covered by railyway 9,500 miles; 
by street cars, teams, boat, automobile, 2,500 miles, making a 
total of 12,050 miles traveled. 


On these trips I have addressed meetings of almost every 
description, such as conventions, associations, teachers’ meet- 
ings, churches, Sunday schools, secret orders and school im- 
provement boards of education, leagues, school closings, county 
commencements, etc. Perhaps not less than 100,000 persons 
have heard and listened to us with interest. In addition to my 
travels and many speeches delivered during the year, I have 
made out every month that I have been in the field three re- 
ports of my itinerary for the month, and forwarded one to 
Prof. N. C. Newbold for the State Board of Education, one 
to Dr. A. M. Moore, secretary and treasurer of the Rural 
Extension Department, and one to Prof. J. B. Dudley, presi- 
dent of the Executive Board. 


Moreover I have written quite a number of articles for 
the local white press in the counties I have visited and, also, 
for the colored press, in order to acquaint the public as to the 


3S 


aim and purpose of this new educational movement undertaken 
by the State Teachers’ Association. 


My correspondence, with a view of seeking information, 
answering questions, and making suggestions for the welfare 
of the work, necessitated my writing, perhaps, over one thou- 
sand letters during the year. 


In all of my talks and speeches my chief purpose has been 
to create and stimulate a desire for better educational condi- 
tions in the rural districts, and to start movements looking to 
improvements along this line. In this effort, I must confess, 
not speaking egotistically, that I have met with gratifying 
SUCCESS. 


In my contact and conferences with the County Superin- - 
tendents I have, with a few exceptions, found them pleasant 
and co-operative in spirit. Cheerfully and willingly they have 
given me all the aid and the information I would ask for, re- 
garding the conditions of the colored schools under their sup- 
ervision. A few of them would even postpone their office 
work to accompany me in their machines to visit the schools 
in their counties. 


I wish also to acknowledge my indebtedness to the Jeanes 
Fund workers, known as Industrial Supervisors and Teachers. 
Without their assistance it would have been well-night impos- 
sible for me to have met with the measure of success which 
I hope I achieved. 


For, being acquainted with the location of the schools in 
their respective fields of work, 1. e., the counties to which they 
had been assigned, they made it very convenient for me to 
reach the schools without the loss of much time, and at a min- 
imum expense. They also, arranged meetings for me in com- 
munities where there is need of new school houses, that I 
might meet the parents there assembled, and talk to them so as 
to arouse and create within them a greater interest in educa- 
tion, and at the same time induce them to organize for the 
purpose of taking steps. to secure a new school house by first 
doing something in ‘this direction themselves, before calling 
upon the local school authorities to come to their aid. 


Wherever I have gone and spoken, I have endeavored to 
- commit our people to the policy of self-help, and be it said to 


A 


their credit, they have become aroused and enthusiastic, as a _ 
rule, and in the most instances have entered: upon the work 
among themselves with much zeal and enthusiasm in raising 
money, or giving material or furnishing labor for the new 
school house. 


As other communities either see, or learn of what their 
neighbors have done to improve school conditions in their dis- 
tricts, likewise have they caught the. spirit and made a move 
to replace the old shacks with modern school structures. 


IRREGULARITIES 


During my visits to some of the counties, I have been in- 
formed of not a few irregularities in practice by some of the 
local school authorities, which are not in harmony with justice 
and fairness to the colored schools in those counties. How 
long such a policy has prevailed is known only to those who 
have control of the situation. 


The most serious irregularity which I discovered was where 
thousands of dollars had been diverted from their proper 
channel; that is to say, instead of being used for the benefit 
of the colored children, whose parents’ property had been 
assessed in local districts as special taxes for school purposes, 
this money had been spent in helping to build school houses, 
supplying more teachers, or increasing the school term of the 
white schools. 


I am glad to say, however, that wherever I have learned of 
such unfair dealings with our people on the part of the local 
school authorities, and have reported the same to the State 
Department of Education, the matter has promptly been taken 
cognizance of by the Department, and the injustice has been in 
part, 1f not wholly remedied. 


TEACHERS 


According to the State Superintendent’s Biennial Report 
of 1912, to 1914, there were 2,534 colored rural school teach- 
ers, 829 held first grade certificates, 1,662 second grade, and 
43 third grade. That the necessary qualifications of our teach- 
ers are sadly deficient is only stating over again a fact that is 
already more or less well known to all who are informed as 
to the situation. 


D 


I very much doubt that, if the 1,662 teachers holding sec- 
ond grade certificates were put to a proper and reasonable test, 
the majority of them would be able to stand it; for not a few 
of the county superintendents have told me, in reply to my 
question as to whether or not they granted third grade certifi- 
cates, that they have been obliged to give simply a permit many 
times to some applicants to teach, who couldn’t upon examina- 
tion make even a third grade, inasmuch as the school was 


ready to open, and there wasn’t any other teacher at the time 
available. 


This deficiency, however, will gradually be remedied; for 
the State Board of Education, the county authorities, the 
Jeanes and Slater, and General Educational Boards all are co- 
operating to make more efficient every year, from now on, the 
teaching force in the rural districts of the State by the estab- 
lishment of teacher-training schools in the different counties, 
of which there are already six. 


Furthermore, it will be understood that where the teacher 
will not take advantage of the opportunity as offered in the 
Summer Normals and Teachers’ Institutes, or in other schools 
of learning, where there is a teacher-training course, they'll 
be forced to do so, or be obliged to seek a job elsewhere. 


Several’of the County Superintendents here told me that 
they intend to increase the salaries of those teachers, who gave 
evidence of capability and progressiveness, so that they will 
be able to spend some time in a Summer School somewhere. 


Just here I would say I am in a position to know that 
many of the County Superintendents would do better by the 
colored schools and our teachers, but the Boards of Education 
in their counties, or white sentiment opposing Negro education 
are not in harmony with them. Not a few of these superin- 
tendents deserve the race’s deepest sympathy and greatest 
praise for the bold and uncompromising stand which they 
sometimes take in behalf of our schools, in opposition to the 
sentiment of members of their own race, who almost demand 
that the superintendent spend as little of the public funds as 
possible on the colored schools in the county. I speak ad- 
visedly on this subject. 7 / 


6 


SCHOOL HOUSES 


I find in the report of State Superintendent that there were 
85 school houses built for the colored children during the 
scholastic year of 1912-13 throughout the State. 


In the 35 counties which I visited, there were 43 of the 89 
new school houses erected in 22 counties in the year 1912-13. 
That left 13 of 35 counties visited, in which no new school 
house has been erected during the same period—1912-13. 

I’ll state, however, that in another part of the report 1 
find a record of 115 new school houses built for the colored 
in the year 1913-14, showing an increase of 25 new school 
houses, over the number for the previous year. 


But as there is no table, as in the first instance (1912-13), 
published, specifying in what counties these 115 new build- 
ings were erected, 1 am at agloss fo™sayawiaieumo tices 
counties I visited, were fortunate enough to get new ones. 


Digressing a little, permit me to state that, in consulting 
the State Tax Commission Report for the year 1915, I find 
that the colored free-holders in the 35 counties I’ve named, 
and visited, and in which only 43 new school houses were built 
during the school year of 1912-13, were assessed for taxes on 
real and personal property amounting to $20,035,818. 

I make no comment on the obvious and striking contrast, 
viz.: only 43 new school houses in one year, and the more 
than 20 millions of dollars in wealth possessed by the race in 
these 35 counties. These figures convey their own silent testi- 
mony ; consequently there is need of no argument. 


Moreover, there were in this same territory of 35 counties, 
when the Biennial Report of the State Superintendent was 
issued for 1912-14, 106,165 colored school children, more 
than one-half of the total number of rural school children of 
the race in the State. 


Prof. N. C. Newbold, State Agent for colored rural schools, 
in his report for 1913-14, submitted to the Hon. J. Y. Joyner, 
among the other phases of the problem he discussed in con- 
nection with his work, said regarding the rural school con- 
ditions among our people :— 

“It.is just that a brief discussion of rural school conditions 
among the Negroes should be given here. It will, however, 


7 


be only stating over again facts that are already more or less 
well known to all well informed North Carolinians. ‘The av- 
erage Negro rural schoolhouse is really a disgrace to an inde- 
pendent, civilized people. ‘To one who does not know our 
history, these schoolhouses, though mute, would tell in un- 
mistaken terms of a story of injustice, inhumanity, and neglect 
on the part of our white people. Such a condition would ap- 
pear to be to an observer uninformed of our past as intolerable, 
indefensible, unbusinesslike, and, above all, un-Christian.” 


“When we come to look the matter squarely in the face, as 
we say, we are compelled to admit that other things, among 
them prejudice and neglect, have entered into the count, and 
we have not, as a people, tried very hard to do simple justice 
by the Negro. In the main the best, most tolerant minded, far- 
seeing among us have regarded the Negro schools as a hability 
rather than an asset. Many have gone on the theory that the 
poorer the school supplied to the Negroes, the better it would 
be for society and the State.” 


ROSENWALD FUND 


In the beginning of my work last fall, Prof. Newbold re- 
quested me to call the attention of our people to the Rosenwald 
Fund and its purpose, viz.: to donate one-fourth the cost of a 
new school house, the maximum amount being $350.00, where 
the other three-fourths is already guaranteed. 

In complying with his suggestion, I urged our people in 
every county i went to take advantage of this fund. As the 
result of such agitation, I am satisfied there will be erected 
from 25 to 30 new school buildings this summer, costing, per- 
haps, not less than $25,000. Before I began the work last fall, 
I am informed that at least half dozen houses had already been 
built, having received help from this source. 

Last January, when there were about 25 applications for 
grants to as many new school houses to be built, before the 
Rosenwald Fund Board, whose headquarters are at Tuskegee, 
and because there was more or less delay and suspense as to 
whether the applications would be considered favorably, in 
view of the late Dr. Washington’s sickness and death, Mr. 
Newbold requested me to go to Tuskegee and take the matter 
up with the Board. 


8 


- Just when I laid my plans to go, I was taken sick and pre- 
vented from going. But after I recovered from my sickness, 
I wrote to Mr. C. J. Calloway, Secretary of the Board, and ask- 
ed him please inform me what disposition they intended to 
make regarding our applications for aid. On February 2nd, 
Prof. Newbold received a telegram from Mr. -Calloway, in- 
forming him that the Board had granted 20 of the applications. 
Subsequently I received the following letter: 


“Tuskegee, Ala., Feb. 19, 1916. 
MirsCeEtleiioore 
Rural School Extension Dept., 
Greensboro, N. C. 
Dear Mr. Moore: 

“Recently the Executive Council advised that I promise 
twenty additional schoolhouses in N. C., aid from the Rosen- 
wald Fund. I have written to Mr. Newbold with reference to 
the matter. 

“IT am very glad that you are in ie field in N. C. doing 
good work. We hear a great deal of your work, and its far- 
reaching influence. : 

Very truly yours, 
Culp ALrows vs 
Director Extension Dept.” 


OTHER WORK THAN RURAL 


Sometimes it has been possible for us to accomplish work 
that will be helpful to our people by, meeting other school. 
officials than the county superintendents. 

In the conference already referred to in the beginning of 
this report, held in Raleigh, September 2nd, with State Supt. 
Joyner and his associates, Messrs. N. C. Newbold and EF. E. 
Sams, Dr. Joyner said that while my work would be primarily 
in the rural districts, nevertheless, he would suggest that I give 
some attention to the conduct and management of the graded 
schools, whenever it might be convenient for me to do so, and 
let the local school authorities know what I thought of the 
situation. 7 

In a few instances, whenever the opportunity presented it- 
self, I’ve endeavored to carry out his suggestion. For instance, 


9 


last fall, in the month of September (although school hadn’t 
opened in Little Washington or Washington), I had a confer- 
ence with the city superintendent, Prof. Palmer, concerning 
the shabby graded school building, which the local school au- 
thorities tolerated for the colored children. To make a long 
story short, he said he was ashamed of it himself, that he was 
going to do whatever he could with the Board, that the old 
building might be replaced with a new one just as soon as 
possible. 


Right here I'll say that I have recently been informed by a 
reliable person that a modern, up-to-date building, with not 
less than 18 rooms, costing about $15,000, is now in the course 
of erection, or soon will be. 


While passing through Goldsboro the first week in Novem- 
ber, at the request of Rev. Clarence Dillard, 1 stopped over a 
few hours, and in company with him I went and had a con- 
ference with the city superintendent, Prof. Huffman. After 
expressing my opinion concerning the old dilapidated school 
building for the education of the colored children of the town, 
I soon found that he was in sympathy with my mission; be- 
cause he said, “I believe you can help us in this matter, if 
you'll write a letter to the Board of Education, when you can 
find the time to do so, and say to them pretty much what you 
have said to me on the school situation.” When I found it 
convenient, I wrote the letter and sent it to Prof. Huffman to 
hand the Board. 

The middle of May, while enroute to Greene County, I 
stopped over again in Goldsboro to learn whether or not my 
letter had any effect, as I had not heard anything from it since 
it had been written and sent last fall. Agreeable to my sur- 
prise, in visiting the graded school the morning of my arrival, 
the Rev. Dillard, the principal, as soon as he saw me said, 
“Come here, I have something to show you.” He walked with 
me a little way to the rear of the front. of the main part of 
the school building, and pointed to the site on which he said 
the Board had promised to erect this summer a two-story 
brick building, with rooms for graded and high school depart- 
ments, costing not less than $14,000. “This, said he,” is the 
result of your letter to our Board of Education last fall, for 
all of which we are very grateful to you.” 


10 


While in Wilmington in November, I had a conference with 
Professors Blair, City Superintendent, and Washington Gat- 
lett, County Superintendent, in regard to the ancient Williston 
school building. Both of them expressed themselves to me as 
being perfectly willing, so far as they are concerned, to do 
what they can to relieve the very undesirable situation. But 
the main obstacle in the way is a want of unity among our lead- 
ers in the community. And the cause of this division among 
them is a spirit of narrow, bigoted and intense selfishness, so 
I am advised. 


In the meantime the children suffer because of such a 
baneful disposition prevailing among their parents. 


In Charlotte, where we made an attempt to induce the 
local school authorities to give our people a new graded school 
building on Myers Street, there seemed to have been some mis- 
understanding as the spirit and purpose of an article, 1 wrote 
soon after my visit there the second week in January, and for- 
warded to the Charlotte Observer, to be published at their re- 
quest. 

While the colored people may not get a new building this 
year, nevertheless, without boasting, I am satisfied there are 
going to be some improvements in the school conditions in 
Charlotte in the near future, which, perhaps, might not have 
resulted had it not been for that unfortunate article of ours 
appearing in the Observer the morning of the 29th of January. 
As Shakespeare says, “All’s well that ends well.” 


Hear: The Board of Education for the city of Charlotte 
met in session the night of June 6th to elect teachers and trans- 
act other business in the interest of the schools for both races. 


The Charlotte Observer the following morning (the 7th 
inst.) contained the following items among others, giving an 
account of that meeting: “The Committee on Buildings and 
Grounds recommended that some needed improvements be 
made on the Myers Street graded school building, and, also 
that fire escapes be attached to the same.” 

“Furthermore that two additional rooms be built onto the 
colored graded school at Fairview, to relieve the congested 


situation, which has prevailed in that school for a year or two 
past.” 


11 


“Moreover, the salaries of all the grades were voted to be 
raised from $2.50 to $5.00 a month more than what the teachers 
had hitherto been getting; and provision was, also, made for 
the employment of a Domestic Science teacher, and a Manual 
Training Instructor, these being new teachers added to the 
teaching force.” 


While we do not presume to say that our interference, or 
intercession, if you please—brought about all of the above 
mentioned results, yet we feel a pardonable pride in suspecting 
that some of these improvements and advantages might not 
have been forthcoming so soon had it not been for this school 
extension work set in motion by your honorable body. 


Furthermore, Mecklenburg County, which heretofore had 
been enjoying only a four-months’ school term, unsupported by 
special taxation, as a result of this very same unfortunate 
article hereinbefore mention, wherein I expressed my surprise 
that Mecklenburg County, one of the richest in the State, 
could afford only a four months’ school, I surmise, is in the 
future going to experience the pleasure of having a five months’ 
school for both races. 


As corroborating this statement, my informant is again the 
Charlotte Observer of February 9th, which contains the fol- 
lowing: 

“As the result of a conference with State Superintendent of 
Education J. Y. Joyner on Tuesday, County Superintendent 
of Education J. M. Matthews received the assurance that 
Mecklenburg County should receive a sufficiency of revenue 
from the equalizing fund to insure a general five months’ term 
throughout the system. ‘The journey of the official to Raleigh 
for purposes of conference, was decided upon at a meeting of 
the board of school commissioners on Monday of this week, 
when the subject of the equalizing fund and its local applica- 
tion, was discussed at length. ‘The arrangements reached be- 
tween Mr. Matthews and Mr. Joyner are regarded as emi- 
nently satisfactory, since it guarantees that each of Mecklen- 
burg’s schools unsupported by special taxation, shall receive a 
pro rata share from the equalization fund of sufficient pro- 
portions to warrant its operations throughout the full five 
months.” 


he 


While, personally, we would not attempt to claim any credit 
for the new modern graded school buildings that have come to 
my knowledge, in the course of erection this year, to replace 
the old ones in Selma, in Raleigh, in Salisbury, and the $10,- 
O00 one in Greensboro, already completed the first of this year, 
and entered in February, and the much needed improvements 
having been made to the school in Greenville, costing several 
thousand dollars, and the additions and improvements contem- 
olated this summer for the one in Wilson to cost $25,000, so 
I am told; nevertheless, I suspect that the influence of this 
new educational movement, known as the Rural School Ex- 
tension, inspired more or less these improvements in our local 
school conditions. 


LETTERS CONCERNING THE WORK, ETC. 


During the year I have received hundreds of letters from 
county superintendents and others, in which they have ex- 
pressed their opinion regarding the work, etc. I shall, at this 
point, read a few of them, they will explain themselves. For 
the good of the work the names of some of the writers and 
the headings, are the headings are omitted. 


Chadbourn, N. C., Nov. 20, 1915. 
“Protec. tite Moore, : 

Greensboro, N. C. 
Dear Sir: 

“I am very much pleased with the report of your work in 
Columbus County. I think you got a pretty clear idea of the 
real situation in every school you visited. Your suggestions 
are timely, and they will be considered. 

“I am very anxious to stir up a deeper interest among the 
colored people in the school buildings and- equipment. You 
are in a position to do more along this line than I am, and I 
hope you will aid me in my efforts to get the colored schools in 
better shape. 44 pare 

“I hope we will have you visit Columbus again in the 
near future. 

Yours truly, 


F. T. Wooten, 
County Superintendent. 


13 


o Wandsor wy Gr pret}, 1916: 
Ei ror. ©. H.: Moore, 
Greensboro, N. C. 


ear sir: 

“In compliance with your request, I am sending you the 
names and home addresses of the colored teachers of Bertie 
County. 

“T am. glad that you came to Bertie last week. Your visit 
will mean much good to the schools in this county. We hope 
to have you again next year. 

Yours very truly, 


HERBERT W. Fiarty, 
County Superintendent. 


“June 15th, 1916. 
ee ror C. H. Moore, 
Kind Sir: 

“We are working here very hard for our training school, 
and. we feel that we will succeed after you visit here. You 
have no idea how much interest you stirred up in our county 
_on the question Oe (aces...) | ain, 


Very respectfully TREES YT GAA eke 


“June 20th, 19106. 
meror.. iH. Voore, 

) Greensboro, N. C. 

Wear ir’: 

“T thank you very much for your interest in our behalf, and 
wish you much success in your immediate work. 

“Your visit to this county has brought to pass many things 
that would have remained undone. The superintendent did 
as he promised you with reference to the special tax fund, 
and as a result many of the schools have longer terms. In a 
talk to the County Association, I urged upon the teachers in 
the special tax districts to show their appreciation by at least 
sending their joining fee to the State Association. I cannot 
tell how much effect it had. 

| bh eny sincerelyyvourss su ere 


14 


“THE. JOHN ‘Fy SE Ay Bi ae 
~ 61 Broapway, New York 
“Mareh 20, 1916: 
i PrOressOl. Gala yloore, 
232 Mebane Street, 
Greensboro, N. C. 
My dear Mr. Moore: 

“T thank you for sending me the report, and would say 
that I certainly should like to have you send me such as oc- 
casion occurs. | 

“With good wishes. 

Yours truly, 
James H. Dinyarp.” 


THE UNIVERSITY QOFRWOR'T Hea Cai 
RurAL ECONOMICS AND SOCIOLOGY 
“Chapel Pian. Cami lancrie 7 iho! 
Mrs eV Gore, 
Weldon, N. C. 
Dear Mr. Moore: 

“Please let me have the accounts of your visits to the vari- 
ous counties; it gives me an intimate look into the condition 
and the progress of Negro school education in the State. You 
understand, of course, that I am tremendously interested in 
that. 

“With best wishes, I am, 

Yours truly, 
E. C. BRANSON.” 


FIRE PROTECTION 
The 16th of last January I received the following letter 
from the Hon. James R. Young, Insurance Commissioner: 


“STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA 
“Ratlei gh}? arent £O. 
“ETOigeGebln Moore 
Supervisor of Colored Schools, 
Greensboro, N. C. 
Dent ao it 


z 
I note you are going over the State inspecting colored 


1d 


schools, and I am sending you, under separate cover, copies 
of two pamphlets I have issued bearing upon better and safer 
buildings. If you care to distribute them I will send you a sup- 
ply so you can give them out to the teachers at each school you 
visit. 
Very truly yours, 
James R. Youne, 
Insurance Commissioner.” 


Soon after receiving this letter, I answered it, and said to 
him that I would be pleased to distribute the circulars which 
he mentioned in his letter. At the same time I called his at- 
tention to three schools where I thought the children would be 
Mieareri case of a fire, I would have named other city 
schools, but up to the time of the reception of his letter, I had 
not taxed my mind so much with this particular phase of the 
school conditions ; and, consequently, not being so sure of the 
lack of fire protection in other city schools, which I visited 
(while I have no doubt there is such a lack in most of them), 
I decided that silence would be the part of discretion. 

In reply to my letter I received the following from Mr. 
Young: ; 


“Raleichy, Ne@arigo. 2461916: 
miro. ©. El. Noore, 
Greensboro, N. C. 
Wear: 
“Tam in receipt of yours of the 20th inst., and thank you 
for same. 

“2. .I thank you for your letter and the information there- 
in, and especially for your expression of willingness to help 
me in the matter. I am anxious to bring about a condition of - 
better and safer school buildings in the State, and believe that 
I can do so with the aid of those engaged in the work. 

pol thank yousior the -intormation. im regard” to ‘the 
schools at ‘Tarboro, Charlotte, and Elm City, and will look into 
them. 

Very truly yours, 
| JAMEs R. Youn, 
Insurance Commissioner.” 


16 


I found a so-called graded school at Elm City (mentioned 
in Mr. Young’s letter) composed of two rooms, one teacher, 
ten pupils of the primary grade, in a very deplorable and dis- 
graceful condition, both physically and otherwise. Whenever 
it rained from without, there was a downpour within on both 
teacher and handful of shivering pupils. Old tow sacks were 
pinned up around the rooms to shelter and to ward off the cold 
winds from without. T'wo old cracked stoves, but only one in 
use, having holes on the sides like port holes in a fort, from 
which, every now and then, live, hot coals of fire would leap 
forth onto the floor, and threaten to set the school room afire, 
but for a barrel of ashes being spread around in close prox- 
imity to the stove. ; 


Before leaving the town, I sought a conference with the 
Chairman of the School Board, and told him of the conditions, 
I discovered at the colored school. He confessed woeful ig- 
norance of the situation. 


On the contrary he was surprised to learn of what I had 
informed him. He seemingly was under the impression that 
everything was moving along as smoothly and beautifully in 
the colored school as a day in the month of June, so to speak, 
as he had heard of no complaint whatever, so he said. 


Returning to Wilson, I called on Prot. Chas. L. Coon; an 
honorary member of our Executive Board, and reported to 
him the condition of this one-teacher, graded school in the 
County, of which he is County, as well as City Superintendent 
of Wilson, N. C. After giving me an attentive and interested 
audience, before I left him he said that he would see to it 
that a change for the better was made in the conditions and 
environment of that school. 


I am glad to report too that, according to recent informa- 
tion, the old stoves have been replaced with new ones, and the 


building made more secure and comfortable for teacher and 
children. 


So you may see from these two instances, the one in Char- 
lotte, where the Building Committee recommended the placing 
of fire escapes on the Myers Street Graded School building, 
and the buying of new stoves for the school in Elm City, that 
some steps have been taken, however few, through the School 


1 


Extension Movement for the safe-guarding of our school chil- 
pe enwiti ihe -case of fire, by the Insurance Department of the 
State. No fire escapes have been placed on the Graded School 
building in Tarboro as yet. I have good reason to believe, 
however, that they will be before the school opens again in the 
fall. , 

GONCLUSBION 


Now, fellow-teachers and friends, I must stop lest I weary 
you. I havé tried as best I could to render a comprehensive 
report in detail of the work which your Executive Board 
elected me to accomplish. I hope what I have attempted to do 
Bmeeenew ficld of activity has been “worth while.” » If it 
isn’t, 1 am sure there is not one you who can regret it more 
than I. 


I am satisfied more might have been accomplished if 

First —Those who are mostly to be benefited by this move- 
ment had thoroughly understood and realized its inestimable 
value to themselves and their children, and not manifested 
such little interest in our visits, as too often happened in some 
localities. 

Second :—If those mémbers of the race who, through the 
aid of Providence.and fortuitous circumstances, have been 
blessed ‘with a measure of wealth to some extent, had been 
willing to part with a little of it for the benefit of their less 
fortunate brothers. 

Our Secretary and Treasurer, Dr. A. M. Moore, in last 
week’s Durham Reformer, well and truly says: 

“T fear that our leaders are too much absorbed in money- 
making and looking after their own selfish interests to make 
themselves felt in the community life, and this is a fatal mis- 
take in any community. 

“We provide beautiful churches and comfortable pews for 
our own enjoyment for two hours service on Sunday, but our 
children are forced to dangle their feet from uncomfortable 
seats in cold and poorly ventilated rooms for five days in the 
week. This is not right.” 

As a matter of fact, however, after all that has been, or 
may be said to the contrary, if any such thing has been said, 
the friends of education, who have rallied to this cause in 


18 


answer to the appeal of Dr. Moore, have done exceedingly 
well. They may congratulate and take credit to themselves 
for the great good that has already been accomplished as a 
result of their moral and material aid. 


Before closing this report I wish to acknowledge my in- 
debtedness to the representatives of the State Board of Edu- 
cation, the Hon. J. Y. Joyner and Prof. N.C. Newbold, Prot. 
EK. E. Sams, without whose kindly aid and voluntary indorse- 
ment it would have been impossible for me to have succeeded 
as wellas I did. Credit; of comrse, is very largely due sr. 
A. M. Moore, our Secretary-Treasurer, who, on many an oc- 
casion answered our call. Prof. James B. Dudley, Chairman 
of our Executive Board, also, rendered me very often valuable 
assistance. In fact there are so many who stood ready, and 
willing throughout the State “to hold up our hands, and 
strengthen our knees,” so to speak, that we haven’t time to 
name each one; but here I express my sincere thanks to one 
and all of you. 


One question, then 1 am done: Shall this work, so well 
begun, be continued? 

I believe all of you will agree with me that, with you rests 
the answer. 


PRESS OF THE 
DURHAM REFORMER 
DURHAM, N.C. 


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